Letters To The Editor

Why should I and people who are in the same or similar circumstances as myself be forced to bail out the savings and loans?

I don't make enough to meet all my obligations; if I did, then maybe I'd feel obligated to help in this regard.

Some may say it is my fault that I am not able to save and they may be right, but it is certainly not my fault that these S&Ls are in trouble. I think it's a shame, if not a sin, to ask this of anyone, especially poor people.

I think that President Bush needs to be a little more thoughtful in the future about things of this nature, especially since he said he'd be kinder and gentler. This time I think he was too quick on the draw.

Even though I think he's probably the best Republican president since Abe Lincoln, I also think he needs to use better judgment when his decisions affects so many.

Ollie E. Bage

Williamsburg

TEACH MORALS

A major AIDS report recently released by the National Academy of Sciences stated that "moral and religious concerns have posed serious social barriers to prevention of the AIDS epidemic." Naturally, the report failed to mention that the lack of moral and religious concerns has fueled the AIDS epidemic from the beginning.

If our government really wanted to solve some of the problems of our society, it would seriously consider restoring a Christian emphasis to public education. I'm not saying this should be done, but maybe it should. It would certainly do a lot more good than putting condom ads on television as the academy has suggested.

The Academy of Sciences report suggests that morality can't be taught; it is critical of government programs that try. Instead, it recommends that we help those who are living irresponsibly to do so "safely."

If this is the best solution they can come up with, then we are in trouble.

Joe Stassi

Newport News

KEEP IT NICE

The Feb. 19 paper carried two articles concerning watermen on Vreeland Drive: Jim Spencer's "A case of water rats vs. `fat cats,'" and David Risser's "No place for crabbers in `suburban' York." I was under the impression before an article was printed it was thoroughly researched and all interested parties interviewed to ensure accuracy.

I've been a resident on Vreeland Drive for 20 years. We bought our lot from A. T. Jennings in 1968. He told us he was very particular who he sold land to because this was a nice residential area and he wanted to be sure it stayed that way.

There are five houses on this street, two are owned by members of the Jennings family, the remainder by retirees. No house cost anywhere near $100,000 when built.

This commercial operation started two years ago without a permit or any consideration for the neighbors.

We are thankful we finally have a county government that is trying to enforce the laws and responding to the legitimate complaints of the citizens.

Mrs. John H. Householder

Yorktown

FOR PARRIS

Thank you for your backdoor endorsement of Stan Parris for governor. In the same day's mail as this letter is a check for the Stan Parris campaign fund and a letter commending his honesty and courage.

Not enough people have sufficient courage to stand up to the Daily Press.

Parris speaks the truth when he tells Virginians that restrictive gun control laws breed violence and crime. It is a fact that the cities where the most restrictive gun laws are enacted, crime rates go up significantly. It is also well-known that the cities with the lowest rates of violent crime have the least restrictive gun laws. If Virginia enacts gun laws like those of Washington, D.C., it will soon have similar violent crime rates.

The bill approved by the Virginia House of Delegates was the one the NRA has been recommending all along. This is not oppressive legislation designed to restrict honest citizens. Few gun laws actually remove guns from the hands of criminals and not honest citizens. Virginia may have a good law, with no thanks to Sonny Stallings.